Why do football players shave their legs?

A:

Quick Answer

Many football players and soccer players shave their legs due to how often they use supportive tape. With hairless legs, ankles, arms, and even chests, the discomfort associated with the application and removal of such tape is greatly reduced.

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Athletes of many disciplines now shave their legs and other body parts on a regular basis, and some go so far as to use permanent laser hair removal. In addition to the increased ease by which athletic tape can be applied and removed, skin that is hairless is generally more comfortable beneath the form-fitting synthetic apparel commonly worn in athletic pursuits, and dirt and sweat are easier to wash away.

Many athletes who shave also cite the frequent massages they receive, noting that being hairless increases their enjoyment and the benefits of the massage.

Some athletes shave for performance advantages. Swimmers, for instance, cite less drag on their skin through the water when they are cleanly shaved, and cyclists sometimes cite a similar, if smaller, advantage regarding wind resistance. More importantly for professional cyclists, given the frequency with which they crash, hairless skin fares better while sliding across asphalt than hairy skin, and the cleaning of skin abrasions is much easier without body hair present.